Earth Project Saved

At last, the future of the Earth Project is secure. Of three strong bids for this important community resourse centre the Shaw Trust have won out, obtaining a five year lease on the main building and a yearly allotment tenancy of the land, which is part of the Newton Park East allotment site.

The Shaw Trust works with the disabled, the socially disadvantaged and economically disadvantaged people, running over 100 programmes across the U.K.

The Shaw Trust will be continuing to run the site as a Horticultural Project, as it has been since it was opened by the Countess of Wessex 2007, and shall be offering classes for children, adults, and people with learning disabilities.

Previous stories on the Earth Project.....

Still Searching

Since the revelation that the Earth Project, situated at the rear of the Newton Park East allotment site, has closed, Harrow in LEAF have been asking for information updates on the situation.

The Project, which was set up as a horticultural learning centre 3 years ago, would be a valuable site to a committed group attempting to roll out some horticultural based project.

Currently there have been no bids made for the site, but there have been a couple of interested parties who are weighing up the options to see if the Project could be viable.

Harrow Council has now put out information to encourage interested groups to put forward a bid for the site.

We will do our best to keep this space updated with any information we manage to get on the subject.

remembered by all at Harrow in LEAF.

Earth Project update

The Earth Project is a horticultural learning centre, developed by Harrow Council, along with Harrow in LEAF, HA21 and the Learning Skills Council, and opened in 2007 by the Countess of Wessex.

It is based at the rear of the Newton Park East allotment site in Alexandra Avenue, South Harrow, and is managed by the Harrow Skills Centre.

Earth Project - (Pre 2008)

The Centre aims to teach disadvantaged and disabled children and adults about growing food and protecting
the environment.

Funding is obtained from the Learning Skills Council and from participating groups.

The one full time and two part time members of staff work with clients of groups such as local schools, MIND,
and the Primary Care Trust.

In its first two years, allotment plots and raised beds on site have been developed, an orchard has been planted,
an area for hens and rabbits completed, and a model garden planted. The polytunnel is used for raising plants by
sowing seeds and taking cuttings, teaching, and to carry out experiments with different growing media. A wildlife
area has been developed, and projects such as the building of a traditional pizza oven, and an insect house have
been completed by participating groups and staff.

Teaching is done in the purpose-built building and in the polytunnel, and students can gain qualifications such as BTec in Land and Environment, enabling them to go on to work in land-based industries. Uptake for the courses is increasing and the staff are expecting a busy year ahead.

The adjoining land is being developed as an ecology park. It contains areas such as wet and dry meadows, woodland and a large pond. The pond has had decking installed for pond dipping and a bicycle track has been completed. It is hoped to develop the area further with nature trails and information leaflets.

The project is proving to be a worthwhile project to give qualifications to those with horticultural and environmental interests, and to encourage younger children to care for their environment.